FSX/FSX-SE Aircraft and Panel Design Forum - How To

As many of you know, I'm working on the Enterprise from ST:TOS, and have seen that I have exported an 11' model to FSX as ascenery object.I know that I can create emissive textures for those windows that are always "on", but wish to make some of them toggle on/off as in the real studio model.Now, while I know I should make the strobes and markers with FX, since one cannot use animated textures for FSX, I'm not sure how I might achieve this effect.The only idea I have at the moment is to make those lights with external gauges, and then have the gauge control them. Anyone know of another way?I wonder too if I should do something in the model for the marker and position lig…

I looking for an expert on all three as DEP in Vista is being a nuisance for my gauge that handles Direct Input.Anyone up to speed on DEP issues?Cheers,Bryan

Hi,Do you C++ experts know whether it is possible to convert regular variable values (ie of type int, float, string, etc) into a PCSTRINGZ data type and vice versa, in Visual C++?. As it is a typedef struct, I cannot find a way to do a direct conversion, and I'm not good with pointers' manipulation (yet).ThanksTom

I add the name "FriendlyName" and a generated GUID sans '{}' per SDK directions to the custom file properties, but then on export to an .X file Max tells me there is no GUID, and the export module fails (although a .X file is generated).I haven't done this in awhile. What am I missing?Patrick

Let me preface this post by saying two things: 1) I make no claims to expert knowledge. 2) My purpose is to just spur discussion leading to knowledge.Have read this http://blogs.technet.com/torgo3000/archive...n-t-matter.aspxby an ACES memeber, I decided to do some experimentation and research into this topic. This post is the result of my research.Torgo3000 wants to illustrate how texture mapping results in verts used by the engine to ultimately result in triangles that must be rendered.He does this by taking a basic box (six sides, resulting in 8 verts) and applying a default (ie planer) UVW map and showing this results in 8 verts, which is what one would expect as …

In the SDK under exporting proceedures for Max they have:> If skinned animation is to be applied to the model, ensure that> a Flight Simulator X material is applied (click the FlightSimX> box of the Material Editor dialog), and that the Skinned Mesh> box is checked in the enhanced parameters section of the Material> Editor dialog.This seems to imply that one could export a model using non FS materials. Is this true? If so, under what circumstances does it make sense to use one over the other?Patrick

Quick question here, hoping I don't have to do a build to find out:Regarding multi-player and makemdl parts (FS9). Clearly custom variables do not work, but do ANY parts that are not STOCK animations work? For example will custom keyframed animations work as long as they only use simulation variables?Thanks!--Jon

I am trying to make a digital gauge that displays the Turbine Inlet Temp for the FSX Mooney aircraft. The default panel has a "round dial gauge" that displays it and I want to replace the round one with a digital one. I have tried both of these values and neither of them will work.RECIP_ENGINE1_TIT_DEGRENG1 TURBINE INLET TEMPERATUREWould someone be kind enough to help me with the correct syntax?Thanks

Looks beautiful!!!But... do yourself a favour... Delete the dummy FSEdit records after 1533...

Hi All,Am new to FSX, having recently gone from FS2002, bypassing FS2004.In FS2002, by editing the wing_twist param in the .cfg file,This would alter the overall 'pitch' that a plane would settle at for a given speed / altitude...I recently imported Meljets excellent 777-300er into FSX...Whilst flying in FS2002 it performed perfectly, climb to FL 32k with full tanks & the bird would be 'almost' level at mach .84 / .85 ... however flying in FSX, same speed, altitude & fuel.. The plane is now unlealistically flying along with the nose nearly 5 degrees up!! Editing the "wing_twist" param in the cfg file in FS2002 (negative numbers pitched the nose up, positive n…

I would like to make a gauge,like the Simicons type, that would allow me to open the AI Traffic window in FSX for an AI viewer that I am working on. Does anyone know of the command that opens that window? Also is there any way to have the ATC callsign appear along with the plane type rather than the plane type and registration number as it now appears? Thanks, regards, Bob.

Switched a cylinder prop plane to a turbo prop plane. All works well, but when I'm in a level cruise and my speed has stablized, the RMP needles go wonky. They twitch rapidly from over what I've set to under what I've set. Any one else had this trouble with any model? Might give me a clue where to poke it next... :)

I have created a highly detailed model of the Concorde for FSX using MAX7. The interior is about 72,000 polys and the exterior is 70,000.The model compiles without any serious errors and loads into the sim. The problem is it does not display correctly and most of the animations do not work. Textures are missing and don't display correctly, and many pieces are invisible yet their shadows actually display! Wheels don't rotate, doors don't open and nothing in the interior animates. The problem does not lie in assigning animations or textures. I have concluded it must be a size thing. The only possible related message I get during compilation is 'index buffer exceeds maximum …

I'm struggling with a really obscure issue concerning Virtual Cockpit panels in aircraft designed with FSDS v3. I've got the principle working in two aircraft no problem, (which is the annoying bit) because now, when I apply EXACTLY the same principles to another aircraft, the supposedly transparent polygon that the gauges are "projected" onto appears to be highly reflective, like a piece of polished metal. The gauges show, but unless I want a chrome dash, it's not ideal :-(If anyone has any clues as to what may have caused this, I'd be most obliged. The polygon in question has been re-created (several times ;-) and DEFINITELY has no specularity set, also the "virtual" te…

Hi,I have a full version of 3D Studio Max 9 and still I am waiting for some plugins from ACES Studios. Instead I am forced to work with gMax which was made many year ago and leaves a lot to be desired on the compatibility front when it comes to using it with Windows Vista.Come on ACES or Microsoft, when can we expect to see an update to the SDK to allow 3ds Max 9 users to create for flight simulator on a professional level? At

Does any one know, if there are blank paint kits available on the net for Liederdesigns buisness jets? I have found one for the ASTRA Westwind II, but I'm looking for the Gulfstream G100, Falcon 7X and 900. I found out, that www.liederdesign.com doesn

Hi all,Just started with some XML-programming to develope gauges to make my PSS A320 even more realistic. I guess we all know this knob on the pedestal of real airliners with which they can look or unlock the cockpit door, I'm trying to make such a gauge.The knob has three positions, and I've made three seperate bitmaps to cover all three positions.I started with an older gauge and made changes here and there to at the end have my own. My gauge is working fine now, except when I turn on the panel lights the entire PSS-panel lights up (it has it's own bitmaps for night lightning) and my gauge basically is illuminated by the default luminous-color.I would like to make my ga…

Hi,There are a lot of piston engine parameters among the A:Vars.Can anyone tell me what would be the appropriate paramater to check if an engine is running or not.Thanks for your help.Roelof

This is my first public screen shot of the 747-8i that I've been working on for over one year now. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1243/104684...995c51100_o.jpgIt's still a couple of weeks away from release -- if anyone would like to beta test it, please post a reply or send me an e-mail.Andy [email protected], I am aware that Emirates does not have an order for the passenger version of the 747-8.

Hi,I can't seem to find a 3 view drawing of a PA-44-180T Turbocharged Seminole. If anyone knows of a website that has one, or maybe has a hard copy one that could be scanned, please help me out/Please and Thanks!!Bill Denny

I've got an ADI gauge that I wrote for FS2002. It worked fine in FS2002 and FS9. Unfortunately, one of the graphic elements (a SLIDER) isn't displaying properly in FSX. What I've got are two SLIDER elements (glideslope and localiser needles) that display on top of the main SPRITE element. The localiser displays just fine (3 pixel x 20 pixel bitmap). The glideslope looks like a stretched ellipse (3 pixels high by 20 pixels long). Any thoughts as to why this bitmap isn't displaying properly? I've checked the bitmap image to make sure it hasn't been corrupted. It looks fine. I've also played around with changing the memory locations in the resource file. Didn't mak…

Hi,I would like to change/replace bitmaps in a gauge and downloaded ResourceHacker (and a few other likewise apps).But all of them can't show/export the bitmaps because the gauge file is appearantly compressed and then it can't be exported.Tried to decompress it with UPX but no luck so far.Anyone got suggestions how to proceed?Thanks for the help.EgbertBTW: The gauge is main gauge of PMDG 737NG.

Hello, i am wanting to learn how to write xml, are there any Links you can give me to read about XML.... How did you start, what would you have done different, and what would you recommend...Thanks GuysKylan Walters

Hello Fellow Simmers and Experts,I have a question regarding the procedure used to export a model from GMAX to FSX.I read the "SDK Using Modeling Tools" and it is a bit confusing. I quote from the document Exporting a Model from 3ds Max Para 6, To export the model, make sure the format Flight Simulator Direct X File (*.X) is selected, no other model format will work. If the option Flightsim Model (*.MDL) is shown, do not use it, it has not been implemented in this release.7. Click Save. Make sure that the options Export Skin and Export Animation are checked in the Flight Simulator Model Export Options dialog, if skinned animations or animations are included in the model.8…

Thanks Gustavo!Actually, I have pretty much corrected the problem!So I am happy:)Cheers,LFMNboy